Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN POKEMON, nor do I own any of the characters that I have so far used in this Fanfic.
However the plot of this fic is completely my own, so any resemblance to any other author's fanfic is purely coincidental and if anyone feels I am stealing their work please do PM me I will change my story if I feel that you are right.
The Quest to be the Best
Prologue
Pokemon-Dazzling and Awe inspiring, the amazing creatures that thrive on this planet, in numbers too large to even begin to count, numerous and varied to be sure!
People and Pokemon, Together, compete against each other in a Pokemon Battle, Hoping to one day become champions, stronger and greater than all others in the world! Battles bring people and their pokemon closer; they strengthen the bonds of friendship and love shared by trainers with their pokemon as they compete where only the best of the best and the greatest of the great can triumph!
In this beautiful world of Pokemon, though, not everything is perfect. Wherever there is good, there must also be evil, for good and evil are but sides of a coin. And as always, whenever evil rises, so does a hero, a hero full of goodness, whose heart is pure and untouched by any negative thought of the world, a hero whose ideals shine so bright that they obliterate all traces of the darkness that evil brings with itself.
One such hero is a young teen named Ash Ketchum, whose trademarked z marks on the cheek, his ebony hair, chocolate brown eyes and monumental appetite are well known in the world. And yet his true journey is just beginning…
Join him as he seeks to become a Pokemon Master, as he sets out to become the strongest trainer ever in this enthralling tale of bravery, selflessness, mind numbing pokemon battling, of goodness and how it will always triumph over evil and above all tale of love, as it is always love that motivates any good deed, love for friends, for family and for Pokemon…
Three Years Ago, Lumiose City
"Greninja is unable to battle. The winner of this round is Charizard. As Ash Ketchum has no usable pokemon left, I declare Alain the Champion of Kalos. The presentations will take place shortly. Please stay to cheer our Champion and the Runner-Up."
"Awesome job Greninja, return and take a good rest," said the young Trainer. Strangely, instead of sadness and loss, he had a strange sense of pride in this defeat. He had lost to a truly powerful pair of Pokemon and trainer, a pair that had spent 14 years building an unbreakable bond between them.
The next few hours were a blur. He remembered the crowd applauding both him and Alain equally enthusiastically, President Goodshow giving him the Runners Up trophy, Alain congratulating him on a well fought battles and then leaving the city and going back on the road with Serena, Clemont and Bonnie.
A few weeks later
"I understand you must help Greninja. You gotta stay and protect the region from these monstrosities. I will miss you buddy, you are an amazing pokemon and a friend." He was nearly to tears parting with his beloved pokemon, but he knew he must. "I will keep coming here to meet you frequently, don't worry buddy."
A few days later, at the Lumiose city Airport
"Goodbye guys, I am never going forget you guys. Take care, everyone," said Ash, and Pikachu agreed whole heartedly, screaming at the top of his lungs "Pika Pika Pi Pika pi pi pikachuuuu". Our hero then boarded the plane that would take him to Kanto, to Pallet Town, to his home, where he was sure his mom had already arranged her traditional Welcome Home Ash party, just like when he returned from all his previous adventures.
A few hours later, he had landed at Viridian Trans-Regional airport, called out his Noivern and was on its back, flying towards Pallet. As he approached Professor Oak's Lab, and the Ranch behind it, he saw a something unusual. His Gible was playing with a Garchomp, but as far as he remembered there was no Garchomp at Oak's Lab because the Pokemon Professor kept badgering him to use Gible in battles so it would evolve and he could finally study a Garchomp. And this was no normal Garchomp either, it looked very powerful, which meant there was a powerful trainer in town, and his nerves began tingling at the thought of challenging this trainer.
He landed right in the middle of the gathering in the town square, and was instantly steamrollered by the massive hugs and greetings from his mom, Mimey, and many of his friends and rivals from his previous journeys. In attendance were Misty and Brock, his first two travelling partners, Gary, his first rival and now good friend, Tracey from the Orange islands who now was an assistant to Professor Oak, May and Max from Hoenn, and, to his delight, Dawn as well from Sinnoh. He also noticed, to his surprise, lurking near the back of the group a guy who was once his bitterest rival ever but now one of his best friends and a highly respected trainer, Paul. He looked exactly like the last time he saw him after the Lily of The Valley conference, but inside Ash knew he had changed. This he knew because Paul, like himself with his Greninja, could evolve his Electivire to a state more powerful than even Mega Evolution through Battle Bond, a phenomenon that required an immense bond of love, care and understanding between Trainer and Pokemon. His old harsh, cold and cruel attitude could never have given him the ability to Battle Bond with his pokemon. Their eyes met, and they both knew what the other wanted, a battle!
Nodding at each other, they both withdrew a pokeball each from their belts and Ash broke free from his mom's hug, and announced their battle. They went to the nearby park where there was a large sandbox that would serve as a battlefield, as all the party goers lined up on the side and started cheering them both on. Gary walked up to referee the match.
"This is an unofficial one-on-one exhibition match between Ash Ketchum and Paul Shinji. The match is over when either pokemon is unable to battle," he announced from the side of the sandbox. "Trainers, choose your pokemon."
"Electivire, stand-by for battle!"
"Noivern, I choose you!"
Gary looked at each trainer and nodded, "Let the battle begin."
"Alright Electivire, let's make this quick. Clip that dragon's wings with your Thunder."
Damn. There isn't enough space to dodge without exiting the sandbox and surrendering. I could go in close and try dragon claw or dragon rush but then Electivire would just catch hold of Noivern start pummelling Noivern with punches before I can counter, just like he did with Pikachu in the Sinnoh League...
All right I think I got a plan. It's risky but worth a try.
"Noivern, Steel Wing on the ground, bury them in the sand to avoid damage."
All the spectators gasped as one. No one had expected Ash to do something like that. They watched as a colossal bolt of lightning descended from the sky and hit Noivern square on the back, pushing him further into sandy ground. Noivern grunted but kept his now glowing wings firmly buried in the ground, sending the electricity down into the earth while taking minimal .
"Same old Ketchum, weak and predictable," Paul smirked. "When will you learn Ash that you should NEVER let your pokemon get backed into a corner. Twice I beat your pikachu like that and now your noivern is going down. Electivire, approach Noivern without cutting off the Thunder, and once you are there, cut it off and start using a flurry of Thunder Punches and Brickbreaks."
The spectators watched as the powerful electric type started moving over to where Noivern was, still keeping up the Thunder. They looked at the Kalos league runner up, almost sure that the battle was over for him. Paul looked over to Ash, nervous that he hadn't said anything or given any command so far, and was shocked to see Ash grinning as if he had just won the match.
"Well Paul, it is obvious you haven't battled noiverns much. Now watch." He waited until Electivire was almost on the top of Noivern and then commanded, "Noivern, let's make some noise, BOOMBURST, FULL POWER, NOW!
Everyone gasped as Noivern lifted himself out of the ground and Electivire got hit by the extremely powerful move right in the face, and in that moment between Noivern's wings coming out and his using Boomburst, he was hit with the Thunder but still managed to use his move.
"Thunder Punch"
"Dragon Claw"
"Dodge and Brickbreak"
"Counter with Hyper Voice, then use Dragon Claw."
"Dodge Electivire and another Thunder Punch"
"Fly high up out of reach, then use Dragon Dance"
Noivern flew up high and out of site and carried out his trainer's command. On the ground, Paul and Electivire waited nervously for the Pokemon to come down.
"Charge up a full power Thunderbolt. Get ready to use to the moment you see him. Watch out for whatever move Ash is planning."
Electivire nodded, and built up a colossal amount of electricity between his horns and his tails.
At this, Ash whooped and said, "Noivern, close in and use Dragon Rush at full speed."
Fast as lightening, Noivern swooped in, covered in blue draconic energy, just as Electivire reached full power and managed to release his attack.
The two powerful moves collided right in front of Electivire's face, and the resulting explosion resulted in a lot of sand and smoke covering the sandbox and the trainers. When the view cleared, everyone stared at the scene. Two heavily bruised, panting pokemon stood in the sand before their trainers who had concerned looks on their faces. Noivern, who had taken less damage from earlier attacks, managed to take flight with a huge roar of effort. Electivire was standing, but was panting heavily and wobbling slightly from taking that first Boomburst right in the face and then this explosion.
He looked at his trainer, who nodded.
"Well Ash, you have grown stronger, but I am afraid that's as far as you can push me. Now Electivire, let's show them our true power. Time to unite and share our strength. BATTLE BOND!"
Both Pokemon and trainer closed their eyes. Electivire began to glow a blinding white. Everyone watched the transformation occur as if in slow motion. When the light died, it revealed a powerful, changed pokemon. The two horns on the Thunderbolt pokemon's head had grown larger and turned bright white. The tails had gotten thicker and developed a series of spikes of the same red colour as their tips. Each arm was longer with bulging muscles. It's legs had lengthened by about half a foot and they were slightly thicker and again more muscled. The yellow fur had turned bright red while the all the black markings had turned electric blue, like the colour of Zekrom's lightening. Sparks of the same colour coursed all over its body continuously. It also had grown about a foot taller.
Everyone gasped in amazement at the transformation that took place. They could feel the immense power radiating from this pokemon, as though it were some legendary pokemon.
Paul opened his eyes and spoke just one word. "Thunder"
Before Ash could even register the command, it had been executed. A massive bolt of lightning struck Noivern right on the head, and he immediately fainted.
For a whole minute, there was no sound. Then Gary remembered his duties as a referee.
"N-Noivern is u-u-unable to battle. P-Paul wins." He announced, stuttering due to the immense power he had just witnessed.
Everyone broke into applause, which soon turned into cheers and shouts of admiration. It looked as though the whole of Pallet had come to watch the battle after hearing the initial explosions.
"Thank you Electivire, you are one heck of an amazing pokemon. Time to return and take a well-deserved rest." Paul told his partner after devolving it. He returned his pokemon and looked up to see Ash doing the same.
"You too Noivern. Take a long rest." Ash recalled his pokemon, before turning to Paul. "THAT was one heck of a battle Paul. That was some display from your Battle mode Electivire."
"You were being stupid, letting Noivern take that much damage just to land a few hits. You should have kept to the air and used Dragon Pulse from a distance to wear me down. You might have won then, but I guess sensible strategies have no place in your head, which is clearly full of foolish, reckless suicidal strategies." With that, Paul walked off to the lab, saying he might as well get some training in while they were wasting time at a party.
Ash's stomach suddenly growled and his homecoming party finally began as he rushed over to table to eat.
For a few more hours the festivities went on, and they would have gone on longer but for Ash's Charizard, who must have seen him coming flying to Pallet and wondering why his trainer had not yet come. He came and started using flamethrower, first on Ash's face and then on the table to burn up the remaining food. Ash, thinking he should go and meet his pokemon, climbed onto Charizard and flew over to the Ranch, effectively ending the Party.
"Woah guys, calm down. I don't want to break a few dozen bones you know!" He exclaimed, as he was assaulted by all his pokemon rushing to him at once, trying to get into his arms or onto his shoulder. He headed over to the big Oak(all the pun intended) tree in the middle of the Ranch, where he greeted each of his 87 pokemon individually and introduced them to their new friends from Kalos. After a few more hug assaults he finally left the Ranch and headed to the Lab, leaving all his Pokemon but Pikachu, who never left his side (shoulder, actually), at the Ranch.
"Professor, I learnt a lot in Kalos. I came to know about 3 regions that I still haven't visited. I understand that the Sholtour Islands are actually the World League HQ and are off limits to anyone who is not a member of a Pokemon League with a minimum rank of Elite 4 and so I can't go there, but I am really confused between going to the Tayose region and the Feilong region. They both sound really cool. I heard that while the huge number and types of different Dragon types are simply impossible to find anywhere but in Feilong, you can't do much better than Tayose when it comes to versatility of Pokemon types. I don-". Ash was cut off by the professor. "Ash Listen for a minute. I know you are really pumped after finishing at your best in the Kalos league and want to carry on as soon as possible but wait. There is a certain guest here who would like to speak to you. She has an offer for you, and a very good one at that. I think now is the perfect time to call her. Just a moment Ash, I'll go and get her." And with that he left through the door.
When Professor Oak came back, he was accompanied by someone Ash was very familiar with. Standing before him was 5"10' beauty. Young, with luscious long cream yellow hair, clad in a black jacket over her black dress and leggings. A long frill of her hair descends on the left side of her face, covering her left eye, all the way down to her waist. Her gorgeous silver eyes sparkle and despite that dazzling, cheerful smile and the youth in her, she radiates a power unlike any other. The Garchomp he saw earlier was now no more a mystery. The longest undefeated Champion in the history of the Pokemon League, The Empress of Sinnoh, and the most powerful pokemon trainer Ash knew, Cynthia Voltaire Shirona, Champion of the Sinnoh League, stood before him.
2 hours later
"Ash, I wouldn't be offering you this chance unless I was absolutely sure you were fit for and worthy of this. You see, what we are providing you with is the same level of training that a new Champion or Elite 4 is provided on joining the League. You may disagree right now with me, but I am sure you will realize when and if you join that the experience we can give will be much more effective than what you can get from travelling. When I say you don't journey doesn't mean you are stuck in the same city and the same building day and night, just that it won't your standard journey of going from Gym to Gym. In fact, most of your training will be fieldwork with only occasional trips to the school building. You will only be journeying while being observed and carrying out tasks that we assign you. You will still meet many new pokemon, and trainers while out. Your progress as a trainer will increase manifold under our guidance and by the time you are ready to graduate you will really be a force to be reckoned with." Cynthia finished, finally taking a seat in the study, after nearly two hours of continuously presenting to the young trainer the details of a top secret League program, though she hadn't mentioned that. As far as Ash knew, he was joining a school that was going to make him as powerful as a Champion, if not more. He, and his classmates, would be taught by her, former Unova champ Alder, and former Kanto E4s Agatha and Koga to become powerful Pokemon trainers.
"Why just me?" He asked. "I mean there are plenty of powerful trainers out there who are stronger and more powerful than me, who have more experience and more pokemon than me. So why me and why not them?"
"It's not just you. Gary and Paul have also been offered a place. The only other person is a trainer named Lucas, who Alder happens to know personally. As for why you and these guys, you are young, which means moulding you into the trainers we want you to become is far easier than with older trainers. You are determined and hardworking. You love and care more for your pokemon than any other trainer in the world, which is evident by the fact that you and Paul are the only people in the world who can Battle Bond. Gary is very knowledgeable about pokemon and has a lot of natural talent when it comes to battling. Lucas also shows similar traits. You four are perfect for the school."
After a minute of silence Ash spoke, "Cynthia, I get what you want me to do. I also see what you want me to give up. I also understand why you want me to join. Where I find it a little hazy is why this whole thing? Why have you suddenly decided to open a battle academy, when you must already be busy with your job as a champion? Where do Alder, Koga and Agatha fit in, seeing as Alder comes from an entire different region and Koga and Agatha are so different in so many terms, age, battle style, lifestyle, almost everything?
Cynthia groaned mentally. She had prepared for this, but it was still going to be a pain in the side, giving enough to satisfy his curiosity but also hiding enough to ensure the secrecy of the program.
"You see after Alder retired 4 months ago, he was recounting his most thrilling times as a champion to us other champions, during a sort of farewell we had arranged for him. At that time, he remembered you and your friends stopping Team Plasma and how you had uncovered so much more information about them then we, despite being League Champions, had managed. It made us realize that ordinary trainers, just travelling around the world and taking on the Gyms and/or contests, could actually be the most effective way to arm the world against threats. So me and him decided to experiment in teaching, and since both Agatha and Koga were running their own separate schools, which were not running very well, we decided to ask them to join and they agreed. We intend you to be our first students, so that when you begin your journeys again, we can observe you to see if there is any change in the crime rates of the places you be to and if you manage to prevent any major calamities. Also if you guys succeed in doing well in the leagues and as safeguards, we plan on expanding our school so as to make it a proper pokeschool where students are taught the fine art of pokemon battling."
"I guess that does make sense. Well, I need some time to think on it. It's a pretty big decision and I don't want to rush it." Ash replied, getting up and pulling on his jacket, which he had removed due to the heat.
Cynthia almost sighed out aloud in relief at not being questioned about her motives further, before replying, "You have a week to make up your mind. I leave next Sunday evening, you have until then. You are free to ask me any questions regarding the institute. You may also discuss it with Gary and Paul if you would like to hear their views." With that, she got up and left, her hair flying behind her like a golden yellow cape due to the wind from the open window.
A few hours later, at night
"So what do you think of this proposal, eh Gary?" Ash asked his long-time friend, who was lounging in his favourite place in Pallet Town, Ash Ketchum's beloved pikachu bean bag and munching on the biscuits Ash's mom had sent up with Mimey. Meanwhile Ash himself lay on his bed, scratching Pikachu behind his ears, earning sweet little "Chaaa"s from him.
"Well Ashy-boy, it does look like a sweet little opportunity to me. I mean how many times has any of us been offered a chance to train under one of the strongest trainers in the world? But then, they ask for so much from us. Quit travelling for at least two, probably three years, no contacting even your family without authorization, only taking two or three of our pokemon with us and having to train the ones they allow us to catch in the wild… I don't know what to do." He replied.
"I see where you are going Gary. I was thinking along the same lines. Maybe this is too much to ask for, that friends and family are more important and that classroom teaching can never give us what we learn on a journey bu-" He was cut off by Paul, who had been uncomfortably sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, unsure what he was doing there in the first place. But seeing these two going so soft on themselves, he had finally cracked, and started to speak with force and conviction.
"Stop being such soft fools. You guys are blind if cant recognize this golden opportunity dancing in front of you buck naked. This is your chance, the chance of a lifetime to achieve your goals, to realize your dreams, to become powerful. You are talking about giving too much up? Do you even understand what we are being offered? How many trainers in the world would kill to get a chance half as good as this? And you will let it go? Because you can't sacrifice a bit of life for your goals? Didn't YOU want to become Pokemon Master, no matter what? Did you think it would be easy? That it would be a piece of cake? Duh, Ketchum, Good Morning. Big dreams require BIG sacrifices. And if you are unwilling to make those big sacrifices, then you don't DESERVE to even dream those dreams, let alone fulfil them. You are weak, you are a coward who hides behind a shield of excuses when asked to sacrifice, who talks big but has nothing to show for it. I am going to say yes, because unlike you I AM NOT a deaf, dumb and blind fool." With that, he got up, walked through the door and slammed it shut, before heading downstairs to the guest room where he was sleeping.
"Wow," Gary muttered, "That was some speech huh?"
"I know." Ash replied, before climbing into the bed and calling it a night, "'Night Gary. I had better get some sleep, I am tired from the day's activities, plus I got a jet lag."
Despite that, even after Gary fell asleep (they were sharing the room as Gary didn't want to wake his grandpa by going back to the lab) Ash lay awake thinking of what had happened during the day.
That battle with Paul was amazing. The way he evolved Electivire and then knocked me out in a single move! Man I wish I could have put up a better fight, I wish I was stronger. Well, you can become strong Ash, Ash thought to himself, all you have to give is two or three years of your life. I can be a master, all I have to do is say yes. While I will miss travelling, I will be becoming strong. I will also be going around a lot of places according to Cynthia, so it might not be that bad. Plus I get to be trained by four very powerful trainers. I can become a Pokemon Master. It is what my whole life has been about up to this point and I will make sure it is what it is about from now on. Also that last stab from Paul hurt. All show and no go? Coward? Well Paul, you are in for a surprise. I have decided to say yes. I will become the greatest Pokemon Master in the world. I will do it for my pokemon, who are my friends, my family and have stood by me always. They deserve to be recognized as the pokemon of a master for all they have done for me and I swear my life on it that I will never give up on my dreams, NEVER, NO MATTER WHAT!
A week later
"So, what is your final answer?" Cynthia asked, while Ash helped her carry her luggage to the taxi waiting outside the gate.
He took a deep breath, "Yes I will join the Master's Institute of Advanced Pokemon Battling. I will do it."
Cynthia's face lit up at once, and she gave him a hug. She let go and blushed, muttering her thanks while looking away, not seeing that two other young trainers had come down the steps, carrying the rest of her luggage.
"Thanks Gary, Paul," she nodded at each of them. "I am sorry you don't want to join the Institute Gary, I wish I could do something to change your mind."
"Well, you are in luck. Getting absolutely thrashed by both Paul and Ash in a battle yesterday did that already. I am joining, if the invitation is still open, that is," He said. "Of course it is. Oh this is wonderful. Well, I had better be off. You guys I will be coming back in a month to pick you up for the Institute which is located in the Sinnoh region, near my home. You had better keep your three best pokemon ready to take with you, because we are going to put them through the wringer right from day one. Remember no more than three, as the others you will be catching during your training."
"You got it, Cynthia." Gary replied.
"All right, we will be waiting for you." Ash called.
Paul, his usual cold, distant self, merely nodded in acknowledgement.
A/N: - This is where this chapter ends with Ash Paul and Gary agreeing to join Cynthia's academy. Next chapter will contain the first few days at the academy and then skip to the present time, which is actually three years after they join.
Also I have kept Ash & Gary 14 years old during the Kalos League, while Paul is 15.
This is my first fanfic. Hope you like it. Read and review. I am open to suggestions, so feel free to PM
Here are the modifications that I made to the Pokemon World:
1] There are 9 regions, the six till Kalos and after that Tayose and Feilong as 2 regions like the other six with their own gyms and pokemon and stuff and finally Sholtour Islands, an entire region roughly thrice the size of Orange Islands which is the Headquarters of the World League. (I omitted Alola because I don't like the anime much and I don't have a 3ds so I don't know much about the region)
2] The World League is the global govt. It governs the whole world. Each of the 8 regions are represented by the region's Pokemon League and while all trainers that work for the league are a part of the World League, only the 5 strongest trainers of a region, the E4 and Champion of each region are allowed in the HQ. Within the World League there is this hierarchy: there are the E4s of all the regions (32 of them) as the lowest Authority. Above them are the 8 Champions. Above them are 4 World Nobles. Each of the 4 World Nobles look over a sector of the world, North South East and West. Above the 4 Nobles is the Grand Council, a collection of the 5 most powerful trainers in the world who govern every aspect of it and are the absolute authority in the world. The members of the Grand Council are called Hermits.
I am sorry if you were bored, but as I said this is my first fanfic so please forgive me, and you can send hate messages in my inbox I won't really mind.
On another note, I know this looks like it's going to be a rayshipping (AshxCynthia, if you don't know) fic, but I have not yet decided on who I am going to ship. I am mainly confused between May and Cynthia, but may also consider Dawn. I am going to publish a chapter every 1&1/2 to 2 weeks and if you want a poll to decide who to pair with Ash, send a PM, I ll set it up. Also, once I do ship, this might get rated M because of lemons.
I am open to criticism and opinions so plz rate and review. Plz suggest any changes you want in my writing style if it's too boring or even if you just want change of POVs now and then ask me. And please login before reviewing so I can reply or at least leave a name in the review that I can use to reply in next chapter's A/N
Lastly, the remaining chapters are longer and the A/N shall be 100 words max